Gerard Butler Says He Won't Be Returning For '300: Battle Of Artemisia'

By
Kevin Jagernauth
|
The PlaylistAugust 22, 2012 at 2:17PM

Considering "300: Battle of Artemisia" isn't continuing the tale set forth by its predecessor, "300," it's not a complete shock that Gerard Butler won't be returning to reprise his role as King Leonidas. However, according to producer Bernie Goldman, there was a part for him and Lena Headey in the script -- if he wanted it. “It’s a different story. [However] there’s a small part for Lena [Headey]. There’s a small part for Gerry [Butler],” he said last fall. But according to Butler, appearing in the movie just isn't his bag, bro.

Considering "300: Battle of Artemisia" isn't continuing the tale set forth by its predecessor, "300," it's not a complete shock that Gerard Butler won't be returning to reprise his role as King Leonidas. However, according to producer Bernie Goldman, there was a part for him and Lena Headey in the script -- if he wanted it. “It’s a different story. [However] there’s a small part for Lena [Headey]. There’s a small part for Gerry [Butler],” he said last fall. But according to Butler, appearing in the movie just isn't his bag, bro.

"Oh yeah, I'm not doing it," he told MTV. "They're filming [the '300' sequel] right now. I wish them the best, but it didn't [work out]. It wasn't really my thing." No word on exactly what he didn't like about the new movie, but we guess his "thing" these days is appearing in inspirational third world dramas ("Machine Gun Preacher"), inspirational surfing movies ("Chasing Mavericks") and inspirational soccer dramedies ("Playing For Keeps"). Maybe this movie wasn't inspirational enough.

Anyway, it will soldier on without him (though we wonder if this means Headey won't be popping up either). Starring Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Rodrigo Santoro, Callan Mulvey and Jack O'Connell, the exact plot details are being kept under wraps, but it seems it will go the side-quel route, with the narrative cutting in and out of the events of "300." But it seems the story can continue, whether or not Butler appears.

Noam Murro ("Smart People") is at the helm of this one, and whatever it turns out to be, we'll see the results on August 2, 2013.